From owner-freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Apr 5 22:03:02 2005 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Received: from green.homeunix.org (freefall.freebsd.org [216.136.204.21]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 924FF16A4CE; Tue, 5 Apr 2005 22:03:02 +0000 (GMT) Received: from green.homeunix.org (green@localhost [127.0.0.1]) by green.homeunix.org (8.13.3/8.13.1) with ESMTP id j35M32gC095976; Tue, 5 Apr 2005 18:03:02 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from green@green.homeunix.org) Received: (from green@localhost) by green.homeunix.org (8.13.3/8.13.1/Submit) id j35M31nm095975; Tue, 5 Apr 2005 18:03:01 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from green) Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 18:03:01 -0400 From: Brian Fundakowski Feldman To: klowd9 - Message-ID: <20050405220301.GE69428@green.homeunix.org> References: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.6i cc: freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: How the experts do it? (kernel dev) X-BeenThere: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: Technical Discussions relating to FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 05 Apr 2005 22:03:02 -0000 On Sun, Apr 03, 2005 at 07:37:22AM +0000, klowd9 - wrote: > I would like to setup a virtual machine for developing and debugging the > kernel, perhaps with the possibility of debugging from the host os to the > guest system. > Which software would best suite this: vmware, bochs, qemu ? > Keep in mind my host os will be FreeBSD 5.4. So whatever runs best on that. > > Also, How would i setup the system, so at boot i could choose between two > kernels? > One would be my Safe working kernel. And one would be constantly modifed > and recompiled. > Then i could easily switch between the two at boot time. > Is there any easier way to test if a kernel works, other then running the > whole boot process on a system? > > Could i do my kernel testing on a virtual macined minibsd, or is that a > different type of kernel and will not be valid in relation to freebsd? > > If you use a better or more efficient method for testing new kernel code, > please write it here also. I have a fair bit of experience using FreeBSD as a host and a guest within VMWare and was pretty happy with it. The methodology you describe is pretty standard fare, unless you're developing code as a kernel module, and manage to keep out bugs that would cause instability during the development process... that can definitely cut down development time. -- Brian Fundakowski Feldman \'[ FreeBSD ]''''''''''\ <> green@FreeBSD.org \ The Power to Serve! \ Opinions expressed are my own. \,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,\